RHOBH: Bella Hadid Developed Eating Disorder After Adderall Prescription

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum Bella Hadid has revealed that she struggled with an eating disorder in high school after a doctor prescribed her Adderall. In the past few months, the model has been incredibly open about her mental health struggles and her journey to living a healthier life. In November, Bella got more candid about her anxiety than she ever had when she posted several photos to Instagram of herself crying during her nervous breakdowns. While the star received backlash from some who believe her to be just another privileged and ungrateful celebrity, Bella has continued to be outspoken about her mental health.

A few months later, Bella came clean about her unhealthy drinking habits and how cutting out alcohol completely changed her life. She became a partner of the non-alcoholic drink Kin Euphorics and shared that becoming sober had an incredible impact on her anxiety. The star also opened up about her upbringing and how, growing up, she struggled to stand up for herself. This led the model to become a people pleaser in her private life and work life, often struggling to turn down jobs even if she knew she was sacrificing her own well-being.

Bella has gotten even more candid as she recently revealed she also struggled with an eating disorder when she was a teenager. The star confessed in the April 2022 issue of Vogue that a psychiatrist prescribed her Adderall for what they believed was ADHD, and unfortunately, it began to affect her body image. According to Bella, the medication’s appetite suppressant effect led to anorexia. Bella shared, “I was on this calorie-counting app, which was like the devil to me. I’d pack my little lunch with my three raspberries, my celery stick. I was just trying, I realize now, to feel in control of myself when I felt so out of control of everything else.“

Bella’s symptoms were likely linked to her ongoing struggle with Lyme disease. The star suffered from brain fog, anxiety, exhaustion, poor focus, headaches, bone pain, and crying spells. She was later diagnosed with babesiosis, an infection of the red blood cells, usually spread by ticks and can occur with Lyme disease. While Bella now has a healthy relationship with food, she is still triggered by her past, admitting, “I can barely look in the mirror to this day because of that period in my life.“

As a model in the fashion industry, it’s not surprising that Bella struggled with her body image. So many young girls have been in the same place as her, and hearing it come from an A-list celebrity will definitely help others who have been in her shoes feel less alone. As Bella continues to speak out about mental health and making changes in the fashion industry, she’s sure to have a positive effect. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star’s honesty is much needed in the modeling world and will hopefully bring light on unrealistic body standards for women in the modeling industry.

Source: Vogue

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